ROMANIA:A Romanian parliamentary commission has recommended suspending and impeaching President Traian Basescu for repeatedly exceeding his constitutional powers by meddling in government affairs.
The decision yesterday was a setback to Mr Basescu in his power struggle with Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu, but was not an unexpected move from a commission comprising opposition party members and no one from his Democratic Party (PD).
The commission's report accuses Mr Basescu, a pugnacious former ship's captain, of causing instability by undermining the government and seeking to oust Mr Tariceanu, and of illegally ordering telephones to be bugged and intelligence agency chiefs to be sacked.
"Basescu violated the Romanian constitution and . . . has committed crimes," said Dan Voiculescu, leader of the opposition Conservative Party who chaired the commission. "Every deed that is criminal will be referred to the prosecutor general's office."
Parliament is now expected to vote on whether Mr Basescu should be suspended and face a national referendum on impeachment - a poll that he would probably win, given his persistently high approval ratings.
The president has clashed with Mr Tariceanu on a range of issues, from whether to withdraw troops from Iraq, to the timing of Romania's first elections to the European Parliament and the premier's nomination for foreign minister. Mr Basescu denies any wrongdoing, and insists he will continue to speak out when he sees corruption, incompetence or shady dealings in government or politics in general.
The president and prime minister came to power in 2004 on a joint promise to root out pervasive corruption and guide Romania's 22 million people into the European Union.
But, having achieved the latter in January, their alliance has descended into bitter farce, and Brussels fears the daily squabbling has paralysed vital reforms.
The EU expects to receive a report from Bucharest on its justice and anti-corruption reforms by the end of March, and could freeze the release of funds to Romania if it is dissatisfied.
Brussels is particularly keen to see parliament approve the establishment of an agency to check on politicians' financial interests. Some allies of Mr Basescu accuse the opposition of trying to derail that move by attacking the president and his allies.
Mr Tariceanu said yesterday he was temporarily taking over the portfolio of foreign minister after Mr Basescu refused to approve one of his allies for the post.
